A/N: Here we are, at the EXCITING CLIMAX of the story! Thanks for all your reviews, and by the way, lavish is one of my favorite words and I enjoy using it, thank you very much. At least I'm not using the word moist. Eww. Moist. Eww. What a disgusting word. Moist moist moist. Gross. By the way, I can't remember the connection to Spider-man (which is coming totally soon!!) so if you see it, remind me.
By the way, the 'soundtrack' to this chapter is 'Hero' by Bonnie Tyler. See Shrek 2!
Chapter Eighteen
Chaos. That described the streets of Jenn the next afternoon. As our army marched through the streets, integrated with elves, gnomes, humans, giants, and fairies, people shrieked and doors slammed. We marched calmly to the palace and men took up their swords and joined us.
How do I know all of this? I was there, of course. Why wouldn't I be? My hair was tucked into a cap, my legs in breeches, my corset hidden by a tunic. Among the crowd, I looked like just another boy.
When we came upon the palace's gatehouse, Jerrold yelled, "Open the portcullis!"
Hearing his voice made every inch of my body want to run forward and stand next to him.
There was no answer at the gatehouse. Jerrold shrugged, and signaled Munaxy. Munaxy shouted, in giant, at the largest giant. The large giant stepped forward and kicked the portcullis down. It clattered to the ground, and our army flooded through the broken gatehouse, crossing the drawbridge that was remarkably down.
We reached the castle's doors. Locked. BrAfzY brought forward a rock cannon and two gnomes loaded a large rock into the hole. Rubbing two rocks together at the end of the cannon, they created a spark that caught on the string hanging from the end. When the string expired, a rock exploded out of the cannon and went straight through the door, creating a hole the size of a human head. Miraculously, the door swung open.
"Aimed for the wood barring the door!" called BrAfzY.
With a loud cry, our army swamped into the palace. We looked around; the only sound was the echo of our war cry. I pushed myself up further in the crowd, and I could now see Jerrold. He was looking around, suspiciously.
Turning to the crowd he called, "Where do you think they are?"
I smiled. That is so like him. Making it about the army, asking us for help.
"The Grand Hall!" a man yelled.
The Grand Hall. Although not as lush as the hall in Frell, it was twice the size. Many compared it to the size of meadow. It was the perfect place to house all the castle's occupants.
Jerrold smiled. "Yes! Thank you!" he called. "To the Grand Hall!"
With a loud cry, the army continued through the palace, roaming the corridors and rooms until we came upon the Grand Hall. A set of long, wide stairs looked over a hall that was about the size of a meadow. It was made of a solid, gray stone and banners hung all around it, giving it a creepy, drafty feel.
It wasn't the size that was shocking.
At the far side of the hall was not the inhabitants of the castle, but an awaiting Kyrrian army. In their intimidating orange uniforms, they were all lined up and staring us down. Jerrold stepped down the first few stairs, followed by Lenwat, BrAfzY, Munaxy, and Queen Maub. I desperately wanted to step down with them.
The hall was silent. "To freedom!" screamed Jerrold suddenly, running forward.
The Kyrrian army ran at us, and we responded by running down the stairs, shrieking "for freedom." Our two armies collided in a flash of orange and navy. Men grunted and shouted, filling the air with clanks and pangs of crashing swords. I reached into my quiver and pulled out an arrow, and sent it flying into a man's chest. He fell backwards silently. Luckily, my arrows didn't kill. I wouldn't want to kill these men. They'd just be in shock for a few hours, he'd wake later.
And so it went. Men grunted and shouted, filling the air with clanks and pangs of crashing swords. The smell of smoke mingled in the hall from the rock cannons. The elf's staffs came in handy. They threw them at people, hit people with them, and defended themselves from swords with them. Giants ran amok the hall, plucking weapons from the enemy.
I was doing fine, shooting my arrows, until I saw Jerrold. He was dueling with none other than Orlando. I saw his lips moving; I heard Orlando's cold laugh pierce the air. I stood watching them duel, clenching my fists in fear and anger. It was a miracle that I didn't get stabbed.
Suddenly, Jerrold knocked Orlando down and started looking around, anxious. He gaze fell on me. His jaw dropped. I looked at Orlando, who was standing up, who looked from me to Jerrold. His lips curled into a grin.
"Jerrold, watch out!" I shrieked, running towards him.
I was too late. As Jerrold looked back to Orlando, his sword pierced Jerrold's leg. Jerrold threw his hands over the wound, and fell to his knees. Orlando raised his sword above Jerrold, laughing.
"No!" I screamed, ramming into Orlando, knocking him over. "Queen Maub! Jerrold is injured! Anyone!"
I stood up, screaming, and fell over Jerrold. His eyes were closed, his breathing shallow. His breeches and tunic were stained in blood. Tears erupted from inside of me, pouring onto my face and onto him. I ripped off my tunic and wrapped it around his thigh. Suddenly, a sword appeared under my chin. With one longing look towards Jerrold, I stood up to see Orlando pointing his sword at my neck with one hand, holding my quiver and bow in another.
"What is the lady to do?" he said, mocking me.
I realized then that I was just wearing a corset and breeches. My cap was gone, my hair loose and wavy down my back. I was too angry to be embarrassed. I'd never felt this kind of anger before. My heart was racing; I could feel it pounding through my chest. My limbs were twitching and tingling, my fingers itching to do something.
"I hate to kill such a beautiful creature," Orlando said, circling me, his eyes roaming my body, keeping his sword at my neck. "But I swore to kill every man in my path."
To his surprise, I suddenly stepped down on something hard and Jerrold's sword leapt into my hand. I raised it from my side and knocked Orlando's sword to the floor. He scrambled to pick it up.
"You can not kill me," I said in a hard voice. "For I am no mere man."
"Oh, poor Daria, with no ickle prince to love her," he said in a baby voice.
I lunged forward, slicing open his cheek. "You mock him one more time and you'll regret the day you were born," I said seriously.
Orlando touched his cheek angrily. Feeling the blood, he ran towards me. I doged his attack. He turned to face me and lunged to stab me. I blocked his sword from cutting my stomach. As this continued, I developed a plan. I slowly lured him up the stairs, twisting and counteracting his attacks. I didn't know where the movement came from, I'd never held a sword in my life.
At the top of the stairs, I took off down the side of the balcony over looking the hall. Orlando tore after me. I climbed steadily onto the balcony railing, pointing my sword at him.
He smiled again. "You're a foolish girl, Daria," he said. "And I enjoyed every minute of twisting you to hate dear Jerrold. And now that he's dead, you will be mine."
He ran at me, planning on grabbing me off the railing. When he outstretched his arms, I jumped over him and dive-rolled onto the floor. Orlando flew over the balcony's railing and onto the crushing cold marble floor.
I ran to the balcony and looked around the dwindling chaos. I couldn't find Jerrold. He was no where to be seen.
A/N: Semi-cliffy! What'd you think? I know it got a bit Braveheart at times ("For freedom!") but hey, it's a good movie. I also stole the "I am no mere man" from Return of the King, mainly because I love the character of Eowyn. Anyway, I LOVE REVIEWS! Please review! Please! PLEASE! More reviews-- faster posting!